Hi there!

Yet another chapter done - and still the danger is not over (thought it would be, but no). There is not that much left, though. It is quite a feeling, first ever ff story almost done...Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Review responses:

Alariel: Hey, and another winner of a cookie! You are thinking of Charon - yes, that´s where I "stole" from, but of course I´ve changed things around. Keep guessing! (At least once more.)

Ertia: Yes, I´m good to them now, am I not - a little, at least. And here´s more - enjoy!

Alexa: Will it get worse for the elf? Hmm, we´ll see, but at least his agility saves him some pain...Glad you like it!

Elwen: Thank you so much!! I find it difficult to "get" him right sometimes, elves are so complex. I´m very glad you can accept him as I write him.

Tychen: "Mill hanger"?? Great new word, does that make this chapter a "boat hanger"? But hey, you found out where I "stole" from. (No, not Chris DeBurgh, Greek mythology.) Now you really deserve a cookie! Hope you enjoy the rest of the story.

NightShadow131: Yes, I hope I´ll not forget a piece! ;-) Glad you enjoy!

Vicky Turner: Here it is, here it is, see? Now, deep breaths, no fainting, is that clear?! Maybe I should stop giving some chapters cliffhangers ;-)

Christy: Thanks! I sure try to keep up the tone of the story.

Deana: Wow, thanks! Great of you to review, I hope you are happy with the quick update (and don´t forget your own...)

To all of you reviewers: Thank you so much!!! And please keep reviewing...

Here´s the new chapter. Have fun.

Alinah

Rating: PG 13

Disclaimer: Far from mine

Fight fire with fire

Almost engulfed in swirling black steam as he went, Legolas looked more like an apparition than the living, breathing creature he was. The limp had completely left him and he moved with all the grace the Valar had bestowed upon his race. Aragorn followed close behind, his breath heavy in the stifling heat, blind trust allowing him to place his feet exactly where the elf had gone before him on the dying floor. For the briefest of moments, the ranger saw his friend as others did sometimes, unearthly and completely detached from human woes and weaknesses. The elf avoided the gaping cracks with ease, never stumbling. Suddenly the window was there and cooler air fanned Aragorn´s face.

Telias was swiftly taken from his grip and then Legolas was gone, not even stopping to gaze at the dreadful company that awaited them below nor to consider the pain he was going to cause himself. The ranger halted for a heartbeat, taking in his friend´s lithe form as it elegantly landed on the ground but was slow to straighten after the jump, then he, too, left the melting remains of their evil shelter behind.

Even though the window was in the mill´s first floor, the drop was not too deep to risk, thanks to the gentle hill that rose behind the building. Aragorn lacked his friend´s skills, of course, for woodland elves even surpassed others of their kind when it came to covering distances with a jump. The ranger had his own share of experiences, though, and managed to break his fall without breaking his bones.

The sight that greeted him when he recovered was enough to steal his breath away yet again. The hill that was now covered in moving bulks of snarling darkness, red-eyed and covered in patches of wet grass. The sheer number of the creatures made Aragorn feel alien in their midst, as if he had ventured into a realm that was not his to conquer.

A few swift steps brought him to Legolas´ side and they took Telias between them, shielding him as best as they could with their bodies. Their shoulders touching, Aragorn could feel the slight tremble running through the elf and knew that it came from the effort it took his friend to override his body´s instincts and will his injury away, but when he glanced at the fair elven face, he found nothing there but calm determination.

They faced away from the mill and thus were unable to take in its sight, but the air was filled with a mingle of hisses and sizzling, creaking and groaning. Three elements fought with a vengeance, the fourth growing so heated as it circled the battlefield that even out here each new breath warmed the lungs. The fire´s flickering light no longer held the fell monsters at bay, though, they moved through its red haze with ease, but they held their distance to their unarmed prey.

"E tirio ammen" //He watches us//, Legolas said quietly, "en alpalan." //Close by.// A small smile played upon his lips. "E lathro, almear de." //He is listening, but that does not help him.// "Aye", Aragorn returned under his breath, "e darha. Pedo bith e bertho nirva ammen." //He waits. Say the words [when] he dares to face us.// The elf chuckled at that

They remained standing, waiting. Aragorn was acutely aware of the heat the light wind would blow into their backs and then away again. Sparks drifted over their heads and danced in front of the black sky. Telias clutched his waist from behind, his small face buried in the ranger´s back. The dark creatures circled them slowly, and his hand itched to grab a weapon he did not carry. Legolas shivers gradually worsened, though no-one but Aragorn could have noticed.

Valar, this night was the longest he had ever endured.

"E tirio mae." //He watches well.// There was the slightest strain in Legolas´ low voice, and Aragorn could feel his heart pick up speed. The longer they stood here, the weaker the elf would become. The forced inactivity made his muscles quiver, and he had to force his breathing to stay slow. It would be foolish to call upon the only chance of survival they had left without knowing the exact position of their enemy. No rash actions on their part would help. Still, Aragorn felt his body tense for the fight he anticipated with every fiber of his soul.

He was surprised at the light laughter that suddenly pearled from the elf´s lips. "E gosta ammen" //He fears us//, he whispered, "edregol ul firen cin." //Especially your human smell.// "Presto chen firen amin? Ego." //My smell bothers you? Then go.// Aragorn had answered without thinking, having had this conversation countless times, but he was strangely warmed by the words. He felt himself relax slightly. The breathless tension that had threatened to take over control abated. Silently, he smiled his thanks to his friend. He could almost sense the next taunt coming when Legolas suddenly froze.

"Ben anglenno" //Somebody approaches// he said, urgency in his voice, and for the first time since they were standing in the open he turned from watching their surroundings and faced Aragorn. "Abonnen, faer, ulynd." //Humans, souls, monsters.// The flames sent dancing red shadows across the fair features, enhancing the dread that was mirrored in them. And Aragorn understood, too. He had been wrong to expect a fight between just them and the foul creatures surrounding them. He had forgotten about the threat Daramus had made to him, and now he faced the consequences of this lack of foresight.

"Legolas, pedo hi!" //Legolas, speak now!// There was no more time. They had to assume their foe was close enough. All that mattered now was taking actions into their own hands before the ultimate sacrifice could be committed in front of their very eyes. Hearing the elf speak under his breath, Aragorn made a step forward and raised his voice.

"Daramus, I thought you would come to face me!" His words easily cut through the fire´s hissing and effectively drowned out the melodious stream of Elvish that gently wound its way into the darkness. "Are you such a coward that you will merely sit back and watch us? Come, I challenge you!"

Finally, there was a response.

At first it was only visible in the dark beasts that became agitated and shifted uneasily. Then there was a light tremor spreading below their feet. And then the laughter began again, worse than before. It grew upon them like a storm in the night, bare of any mercy, and with it rose a black shadow from the depth of the waters. Glistening darkness shaped itself into a towering monstrousness that mocked the nature it so obviously derided by taking on a vaguely human outline. Arms snaked from the bulk, hands that brushed across the wolf-like creatures surrounding it even as they cringed away in fear. Cascades of liquid formed a robe of flowing evil, its ever moving surface rippling with the bellows of laughter that wracked the air. And finally, slowly, lifting itself from the folds of false fabric that encircled it, the sneering countenance of what once had been human appeared.

The flickering light of the burning mill failed to be reflected on the mask-like face that drank in its light as greedily as it sent out the most tormenting sound that had ever haunted a living creature. Aragorn was dimly aware that he had sunk to his knees, and that thin screams close to his ears were desperately battling with those that were so much stronger. Then the weaker sounds faded away and he could feel a small body slumping against his back. His vision began to blur but he stubbornly fought off the darkness that offered him a quiet escape.

Silence. It came so quickly that it was almost as painful as the shrieks had been that still echoed painfully through Aragorn´s head even though he knew they had stopped. Fearing he had simply gone deaf, he gave a low moan and was relieved the sound was registered by his tortured ears, even though it seemed to reach him through a thick wall and its pathetic weakness made him shiver. He found himself on his hands and knees and every movement was an effort beyond belief, but he still managed to turn his head.

Telias lay behind him, curled in a ball and unmoving. A few paces back Legolas sat with his legs folded beneath him, hands braced on the ground. His face was hidden beneath his long hair, his head bent forward. There were two thin trails of blood that gently sneaked down his shoulders. The eerie quiet lingered on for a few more heartbeats that left Aragorn helplessly staring at his friend, but then low cries and moans from father away drifted across to him.

A mirthless chuckle made him tense. It took every ounce of willpower he possessed to turn back to that which had been Daramus. The face that loomed over him held little resemblance with the old man that it had once belonged to, all lines smoothed over by glistening darkness. Even though, Aragorn could easily identify the false friendliness he had seen in the human before. "You challenge me?" The voice was almost gentle in its chiding. "Look at you, little warrior, all I had to do to bring you down was laugh."

Aragorn searched his aching mind for a response, spurred on by the nagging feeling that the one thing he could not permit himself to do now was to remain silent. "You have not won yet", he ground out between clenched teeth, inwardly wincing at the bluntly overused phrase, "and if I am not mistaken, your little bout of happiness has slowed the lambs that you want to slaughter."

From the corner of his eyes the ranger had made out the swaying forms of humans that were herded towards them by a host of dark beasts. The villagers. The fodder, as Daramus had called them not long ago, that would give the former man the strength to break free from his prison and wreak havoc upon all living things that crossed his path. Although farther away from the tormenting sound than the ranger had been, it was obvious that the villagers had suffered from its effects, too. Most were merely staggering along, some falling onto their knees every few steps only to be viciously driven back to their feet by their snarling captors.

The Water Creature turned to look at its victims and shook its head slightly, sending splatters of dark water sizzling to the ground. "So they were allowed to share in my happiness", the hollow voice mused without remorse, "they, who have received so much from me over the years already. I am by far too generous." The sneering grimace returned its attention to the ranger again, the evil twin of a smile splitting its lips. "I will make them pay, though. In only a little while..."

Suddenly, the creature halted. Even the flow of its robe froze as the whole body tensed, leaning its head to the side ever so slightly in a gesture that was so close to the one typical for Legolas´ that it almost made Aaragorn sick - until he realized the possible cause of it. His heart began to race in his chest. He forced his legs to obey and staggered to his feet, at least partially blocking the elf behind him from view. His hands sneaked to his belt, fingering the pouch there.

"Maybe it is you who will pay today", he called, not caring how ridiculous he sounded, "all you have done so far is laugh and sent your little pets to do your work for you. Will you answer to my challenge?"

The villagers were close now. He thought he caught the sight of metal glinting in the unsteady firelight.

"Silence!" The roar was almost enough to make Aragorn´s legs give way again, but he held his ground. His ears were clearing, albeit slowly, and he more felt than heard the soothing rhythm of Elvish nearby. "You will pay!" he yelled again, "and you will regret the day..." With a snarl that was bare of pretence, the Water Creature lashed out at the ranger with one arm. "You will be silent!" The earth shook gently under the onslaught of sound.

Aragorn had seen the swing coming and ducked beneath it, but the pressure of the moving air was enough to send him to his knees yet again. He could clearly feel the earth resuming its tremors. They were not caused by Daramus then.

"Nasto chen!" //Show yourself!// The elvish shout was the sweetest sound Aragorn had ever heard. He looked up to see Legolas on his feet again, swaying but defiant, his leg covered in blood. "Nasto chen a tholtho cin!" //Show yourself and take [what is] yours!// The earth began to shake now, and the dark beasts started to yelp and wail around them in agitation.

Aragorn struggled to his feet once more, standing protectively over Telias. He could feel the air grow dense with the approach of power.

"No!" There were traces of humanity in the water-formed face now, and anger tinged his outcry, "you are mine, not his! Go and feed! Kill them all! But take the elf down first!" A breathless moment of stillness followed, everybody frozen where they stood.

Aragorn could see that many of the dark creatures had abandoned the mill to crowd at the shores of the brook, but those remaining turned their red eyes on them. On Legolas.

The villagers had split into two groups, one huddled together in fear, the other gathering around a woman who held a glinting object beneath her cloak. Telanna. Her eyes met Aragorn´s for a heartbeat, and he shivered at the determination there.

And Legolas. Strain showed on his face, but there was also a dark mirth that the ranger had never seen before, a deadly crossbreed of hate and amusement that made his blood run cold.

"Fight all you will now", the pale elf said quietly, addressing the Water Creature unwaveringly even as the dark beasts crouched for attack around him, "your fate is sealed."

A sudden howl rose in the air at his words, and wind closed in on them out of nowhere, spraying sparks into the breathless night. A wave of darkness beyond absence of light washed across the plains around them. It was drawn to the mill by invisible strands and flowed into the brook, making it boil as if infused by sudden heat. The water rose within heartbeats, spilling over the brook´s shallow banks, and with it rose the ghostly form of a boat.

"Now, damn you!" Daramus voice, though booming, was fully human again in its fear. "Kill them now!"

And hell broke loose.

TBC